Proper Distance

[Gray E Fowler]

Plus you could have a 150M pole, a 175M pole and a 200M pole-a judge 
looking straight down this can easily determine distance.



Gray Fowler
Principal Chemical Engineer
Composites Engineering




"Earl Haury" <ehaury at houston.rr.com>
Sent by: discussion-request at nsrca.org
07/29/2004 09:27 AM
Please respond to discussion

 
        To:     <discussion at nsrca.org>
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        Subject:        Re: Proper Distance


Del
 
Not under the flight path. At the Nats there is enough room to do it like 
the pylon guys. Well outside the box line. Does create some logistical 
issues, but not insurmountable.
 
Earl
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Del Rykert 
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: Proper Distance

Earl.. 
    Good observations but how would you suggest incorporating a distant 
judge? You can't put a live body out there.
 
                         del 
               NSRCA - 473
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Earl Haury 
To: Discussion List, NSRCA 
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 9:56 AM
Subject: Proper Distance

Distance in pattern has been (and still is) one of the great unknowns. 
(Spins & snaps are the others.) There are varied individual definitions of 
what is proper, regardless of how much clarity or definition is inserted 
into the rules. 
 
I've been around long enough to see the trend move in and out several 
times, often the out times are well outside of the rules. Then there are 
times when others decide that there are more points in really tight! 
Unfortunately, distance out is hard for the both the pilot and the judge 
to discern with accuracy. 
 
A pilot can practice with spotters to establish a good feel for distance. 
That "feel" comes both with visible size recognition and time from box 
line to box line at the "comfort" speed. In too close and one is rushed or 
must slow below the "sweet spot" speed, too far out and the opposite 
occurs. So the pilot has the opportunity to tune for his / her chosen 
distance
 
It seems that, on the judges side, there are distance police. Anything 
that might be approaching the limit is downgraded by them. Then there are 
others that don't downgrade if they can see (or hear) something out there! 
More evidence that distance evaluation is difficult, especially when 
viewing airplanes of different size, visibility, and speed. Maybe the only 
was to achieve judging accuracy regarding distance is to use a "distance 
judge" at 175 & 200m and let them assign distance downgrades? Seems that 
the variable application (with good intentions) of distance downgrades 
presently experienced dictate consideration of an alternative method. 
 
>From the judges chair I find very few close in flights accurate or smooth. 
There are usually inaccuracies brought on by lack of time, box violations, 
and errors forced by wind. The good thing about these is that they are 
over quickly. Out flights often have better maneuvers as the pilot has 
more time, box violations are few, and wind effect is better handled 
(and/or less noticeable). But they do take forever and the distance 
downgrades offset the advantages. So what to do? Take a clue from the 
rules "for a large, highly visible model aircraft a line of flight 
approximately 175m in front of the competitor may be appropriate". Judges 
take note of the "in front of the competitor" statement, as the judges are 
7 to 10m behind the competitor. This moves the acceptable flight line 7 to 
10m further away, so 185m (from the judges) is not to be downgraded for 
the large models (anybody seen small models lately). Even the rolling 
circle distance issues can then be handled by rolling in then. A 100 to 
125m roller in would still leave a 50+m buffer between the pilot and 
airplane.
 
So - consider that the rules are OK. Big airplanes are best flown at the 
outer range of the rules. Some judges may need help in accurately 
assessing distance. Maybe a distance judge would help. There are no 
benefits and more risks to flying too close if to only appease 
"inaccurate" distance police. Hmmm - imagine that, flying within the rules 
gets the best score..
 
Earl
 
 

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